Jenny Lewis is like the Smurfette of the indie-rock village: worshipped by all, dated by a lucky few, and seemingly the lone girl on the scene, what with her guest vocals on every adored record of the past few years. Rabbit Fur Coat is technically her solo debut after nearly a decade with Rilo Kiley, but in the great tradition of female-fronted bands, the act has more or less been considered a one-girl show. Yet Coat is far more tenderhearted and soulful than the band’s last album, the brassy and biting More Adventurous. Lewis’ searching voice is well suited to the country-stained arrangements, and the title track about a materialistic stage mother proves she’s willing to further her reputation as an open, vulnerable storyteller. The audacious (but fantastic) cover of the Traveling Wilburys hit ‘Handle With Care’ has Conor Oberst singing Bob Dylan’s parts and Ben Gibbard filling in for Roy Orbison, and the wailing Watson Twins’ backup vocals make each track even more alluring. In short, Coat will likely bring Lewis the last thing she needs — more admirers.
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